Gumball Science: The Sticky Question Of Memory

CARDIFF, Wales -- ﻿Past studies have found that the repetitive motion of chewing gum delivers more blood to the brain and this somehow can enhance test performance among students. But a new study by researchers at Cardiff University in Wales suggests that gum chewing can weaken short-term memory, at least temporarily.

Cardiff study participants who were given classic memory tests, such as recalling lists of words or numbers in a specific order, did worse when chewing gum. Results were published in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology.

The difference between the studies -- the Cardiff study used unflavored gum and the previous study used minty gum, which has led some researchers to suggest that flavors could make it easier to remembe